Saudi Arabian Transfers: Confirmed signings and rumoured players

Saudi Arabia have taken the transfer market by storm and at this point they’re not only attracting players that are past their prime, but current stars in teams that are competing for the best trophies in Europe.

Obviously, it’s hard to blame the players for turning down the absurd sums of money they’re throwing at them. You could argue that they don’t need even more cash but if someone is floating a £45m deal in front of your face, signing the dotted line on that contract is hard to resist. 

Well with the insanity of this transfer window, we’re keeping an eye on the high-profile confirmed signings for the Saudi Pro League, we’ll also include some rumoured players along with their odds to join the Saudi League.

Confirmed Signings (Updated 02/08/2023)

Karim Benzema to Al-Ittihad (free transfer)

N’Golo Kante to Al-Ittihad (free transfer)

Eduoard Mendy to Al-Ahli (fee undisclosed)

Ruben Neves to Al-Hilal (£55m)

Hakim Ziyech to Al-Nassr (fee undisclosed)

Kalidou Koulibaly to Al-Hilal (£40m)

Marcelo Brozovic to Al-Nassr (£18m)

Jota (Celtic) to Al-Ittihad (£14m)

Roberto Firmino to Al-Ahli (Announcement not yet made)

Sergej Milinkovic-Savic to Al Hilal (€40m)

Jordan Henderson to Al-Ettifaq (Announcement not yet made)

Riyad Mahrez to Al Ahli (Announcement not yet made)

Alex Telles to Al Nassr (£4m)

Malcom to Al Hilal (€66m)

Jordan Henderson to Al Ettifaq (£12m)

Moussa Dembele to Al Ettifaq (Free)

Allan Saint-Maximin to Al Ahli (Undisclosed)

Fabinho to Al Ittihad (£40m)

Sadio Mane to Al Nassr (£24m)

Neymar to Al Hilal (€90m)

Franck Kessi to Al Ahli (€12m)

Alex Telles to Al Nassr (€4m)

Rumoured Transfers

Below we look at a collection of the players rumoured to be moving over to Saudi Arabia, featuring the likes of Romelu Lukaku, Neymar, and Victor Osimhen.

Romelu Lukaku 

Romelu Lukaku’s next club could be anyone’s guess at this point. Inter Milan seemed like the most likely option but with his huge wages and injury record, it really doesn’t look like the smartest deal for Inter Milan to make. Whilst the Belgian managed 37 games for Inter Milan last season, he missed 18 matches through injury which is not what you want from a loan player. 

Lukaku is insistent on not wanting to play in the Saudi League but a huge contract and lack of interest could see him end up playing there. Chelsea are apparently desperate to sell the striker and are reportedly annoyed with him rejected offers from Saudi. Chelsea want a fee for the striker but Inter do not want to pay anything just yet which leaves Saudi as the only feasible option. 

A few betting sites have taken down the odds for Lukaku to join Saudi, some still have him up at 2/1 to join any Saudi side, Inter Milan are the 1/3 favourites to sign him with the forward also being 6/1 to stay at Chelsea. If Inter still refuses to pay a fee for him it could force a move to the Saudi Pro League.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was one of Europe’s best strikers a few seasons ago but his decline has really been a shame to see. It looks like a similar case to Lukaku where the player is trying his hardest to delay a move but eventually, it looks inevitable as no club is interested in him.

Without the odds there isn't much to talk about but it looks like he could be on his way according to reports.

Bernardo Silva

Bernardo Silva’s Manchester City future has been in doubt all year and many were expecting him to join PSG but the bookmakers are now pricing him at under even money to join the Saudi Pro League.

This news has disappointed football fans across the world as the midfielder has just come fresh off a treble win with Manchester City and is only 28 years old. Silva still has arguably just reached his prime years and is clearly one of the best in the world in his position so to see his talents in a league that won’t be competing for the best trophies in the world would truly be a shame. 

He was previously odds-on to be joining PSG but is now looking likely to be playing in Saudi if the betting sites are anything to go off. You can get him at 6/5 to stay at City if you fancy that. 

Neymar

Now this one would be crazy. Neymar looks to be trying to leave PSG this season and after his links with Man Utd have slowly faded out, the betting sites are now favouring a move to Saudi Arabia and they're the most likely options at 2/1! Neymar has been the money man in football ever since his crazy move from Barcelona to PSG and it looks like a hefty fee and contract could be coming his way yet again if the rumours of him joining the Saudi league are true.

Neymar's most recent season was still a solid showing but yet again, injuries ruined most of his playing time which has become a common theme for the Brazilian. If PSG are sick of wasting wages on a player that is constantly injured, they could cash in on him with the assistance of the Saudi Arabian League. It's doubtful other European clubs will offer Neymar a similar contract to what he's on and that could leave a move to Saudi the only feasible option

Victor Osimhen

If you're looking for odds for Victor Osimhen's next club then you'll find any Saudi Arabian club at the top of the list. Al Hilal have reportedly submitted a £120m offer for the Napoli striker and whilst the reports are suggesting that they've declined that offer, we know that these Saudi clubs have an unlimited amount of funds so an improved offer could come in. 

A lot of clubs in Europe are after Osimhen, with Man Utd, Chelsea and PSG all around 5/1 in the betting, while Bayern Munich and Real Madrid also being linked.

Saudi are the favourites at 3/1 and if they can submit an even bigger bid for him, he definitely could be one of the many to join the Saudi league.

Thomas Partey

Thomas Partey’s future at Arsenal has been thrown into question recently and he is apparently trying to force a move to Juventus. Fabrizio Romano has reported that Arsenal are open to letting the player go this summer.

Of course, Saudi Arabian clubs are apparently interested in the player and have offered Arsenal £40m for the player. Juventus is his preferred destination but no formal offer has been submitted yet and if Partey can get a look at those juicy Saudi Arabian contracts before they swoop in, this deal could move pretty quickly.

Paul Pogba

Paul Pogba's future has been called into question yet again this transfer window as Juventus higher ups are reportedly tired of having him at the club. The midfielder was already late to playing his first game back due to injury and then a few games later he yet again suffered another injury putting him out for the season. The French superstar only managed 161 minutes for Juventus in the 22/23 season and with him being on a very high wage, Juventus are apparently set to get rid of him to limit their losses.

This is where the Saudi League comes in to play! They see a star that's not happy at his club on a cheap deal, win, win! Any Saudi Pro League team for Pogba's next club is currently priced at around the 5/1 mark but is as short as 2/1 with some betting sites. The MLS is also a rumoured option but with the midfielder only being 30 years-old, it'd be a shame for him to effectively pack it in at an early age.